The Women who make it happen: Celebrating our female colleagues in Women's History Month

Meet Leah Martisano our super smart Quality Assurance Manager at Lions Prep. Here is what she has to say about International Women's Day, diversity in the workplace and inspirational women!

Q.Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?

A.I think it’s a good time to celebrate the social, political and economic impact of women, the challenges that we still face and how we as a society still have much to do to address the gender disparity.

Q.Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

A.I personally have not; I have a very confident personality and believe in my strengths but also recognise my weaknesses. Self-reflection allows for continuous improvement, and I always strive to be better than I was yesterday. My experience doesn’t diminish other experiences that women have gone through themselves though! I think that an inclusive workplace is a prosperous one.

Q.What is the most important piece of advice you have been given?

A.Paulo Coelho wrote “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” Kindness, empathy and charity enable and empower the people we encounter, so I try to emulate it in whatever I do.?

Q.Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?

A.I believe people in diverse backgrounds will bring unique and creative solutions to problems, and builds camaraderie when we find common ground and create new experiences.

Q. If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

A.Wu Zetian because she was ruthless but a fair ruler during the Tang Dynasty; her rule was marked by prosperity and economic growth. Women held the same positions in civil service and achieved the same level of education as their male counterparts, and appointed her advisors for their merit rather than their connections.?

Katherine G Johnson; I admired her genius, hard work and perseverance which culminated in her ground-breaking work in orbital mechanics, turning the tide of the Space Race against the Soviets. She was a true pioneering role model for women and people of colour working within STEM.?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she was an advocate for educational and financial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights for immigrants and disabled rights through her work as the associate justice of the Supreme Court in the US. In her own words: women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.?